Who decides cases at this office
The Harrisburg panel features a wide spread in allowance rates, ranging from 23% to 69% among active judges. This variation means that the judge assigned to your case may impact your outcome, as each weighs evidence differently. Because cases are assigned randomly, your best strategy is to build a file that is robust enough to meet the standards of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Bridges | 87% | 9,673 | |
| 2 | Peter V. Train | 68% | 10,014 | |
| 3 | Patrick S. Cutter | 65% | 26,004 | |
| 4 | Lawrence J. Neary | 55% | 21,175 | |
| 5 | Shawn Bozarth | 55% | 23,936 | |
| 6 | Theodore Burock | 54% | 17,215 | |
| 7 | Susan L. Torres | 48% | 14,003 | |
| 8 | Sharon Zanotto | 47% | 15,074 | |
| 9 | Scott M. Staller | 46% | 31,536 | |
| 10 | Howard Kauffman | 40% | 28,988 | |
| 11 | Randy Riley | 37% | 25,339 | |
| 12 | Richard E. Guida | 29% | 34,229 | |
| 13 | Gwendolyn M. Hoover | 17% | 11,082 |
Former & transferred judges
SSA rosters change as judges retire, transfer, or move to national assignments. These judges previously decided Social Security disability cases from this location but are not on the current roster. Their full public decision records are on their profiles.
How long you'll wait
At Harrisburg, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Going to your hearing
With an 8-month wait, you have a clear runway to ensure your medical file is complete before your hearing date. Your most important task is submitting updated medical records, specifically those detailing how your impairments prevent you from performing basic work tasks. During your hearing, an ALJ will preside, and a vocational expert will likely testify about whether jobs exist for someone with your specific limitations. You should be prepared to discuss your daily activities and medication side effects in detail. Ensure all documentation is filed well before the hearing, as the final decision will arrive by mail in the weeks following your appearance.
When a panel's allowance rates span a wide range, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it due to gaps in documentation. While you wait for your hearing date, you can anticipate the questions a vocational expert will ask and ensure your medical records directly address the criteria for SSDI eligibility. Claimants who are prepared often enter the hearing with a clearer, evidence-backed narrative.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Harrisburg, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.